182 FESTIVALS OBSSRVEB IN MATHUR^, figures called sdnjkij representing Krishna and the G-opis3 in whose honour also there are performances, all through the night, of the Has dance. 18. Kuvdr Su&i S. — Meghnad Lila, or representation of the death of Ra- van's son Megh-nad. This Is the first of the three great days of the Bam Lila, which is held on the open plain near the temple of Mahavidya. The entire series of performances, which commences from the new moon, includes most of the leading events in the Bamayanaj such as the tournament, the defeat of Taraka, the departure into exile, Bharat's expedition to Chitra~kiit3 the mutilation of Surpa-nakha, the rape of Sita, the meeting with Sugriv, and the building of the bridge. A separate day is assigned to each incident, but the iirst six or seven acts of the drama are not invariably the same, and it is only on the 8th, 9th, and 10th days that many people assemble to see the show. 19. Kuvdr Sudi 9. — Kumbhakaran Lila, with representation of the death of Ravau's brother, Kumbhakaran. 20. Kuvdr Sudi 10* — Last day of the Dasahara, with representation of Kama's final victory over Ravan. Though this fete attracts a large concourse of people, the show is a very poor one and the display of fireworks much inferior to what may be seen in many second-rate Hindu cities. 21. Kuvdr Sudi 11. — Bharat Milap. A platform is erected in the street under the Jama Masjid, on -which is enacted a respresentation of the meeting at Ajadhya betweea Prince Bharat and Rama, Sita and Lakshman, oa their re- turn from their wanderings. For the whole distance from that central spot to the Holi Gate not only the thoroughfare itself, but all the balconies and tops of the houses are crowded with people in gay holiday attire ; and as the fronts of all the principal buildings are also draped with party-coloured hang- ings, and the shops dressed tip to look their best, the result is a very picturesque spectacle, which is more pleasing to the European eye than any other feast in the Hindu ddeadar ; the throng, however, is so dense that it is rather a hazardous matter to drive a carriage through it. 2& Kwo&r full mom — Sarad-piine. Throughout the Bight visits are paid to the different temples* .Ftfrlife 23. JST&4& new moon— Diw&ii, or Dip-dan — feast of lamps. 24, Kartik Sudi 1.— Anna-kat. The same observances as at Gobardhaiu but on a smaller scale.